Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, on what dates the UK-US trade and investment working group has met.

The United Kingdom cannot sign or negotiate trade agreements whilst still a member of the European Union, which we are until 29 March 2019.

In July 2017 my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade launched the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group which has since met on five occasions on the following dates: 24-25 July 2017, 13-14 November 2017, 21-22 March 2018, 10-11 July 2018 and 2-7 November 2018.

The working group’s aim is to provide commercial continuity for US and UK businesses, workers, and consumers as the UK leaves the EU and explore ways to strengthen trade and investment ties ahead of the exit. The group is also laying the groundwork to ensure that both sides are well prepared to open trade negotiations after the UK leaves the EU in 2019.

Our 14-week long public consultations on potential future trade agreements with the United States, Australia and New Zealand and on the UK’s potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) closed on 26 October.